Interactive Letters

Interactive Letters is a monumental, tactile installation commissioned by the City of Raleigh through Raleigh Convention Center to welcome visitors into the heart of downtown.

Embodying the spirit of the city, the larger-than-life letters greet passersby and invite them to step closer, explore their scale, and engage through touch, moving through an interplay of texture, material, and form.

The work is conceived as an act of placemaking rather than signage. It transcends utility to become a focal point where the community gathers, pauses amid the activity of downtown, and connects. Each letter holds something to discover. Panels of astroturf add unexpected, playful texture and warmth to the touch, while mirrored stainless steel offers moments of wonder and a funhouse intrigue that pulls people in to look closer.

Visitors arrive as participants rather than spectators, encouraged to sit, climb, play, take photographs, and share what they find, becoming ambassadors for Raleigh’s identity in the process.

Each letter stands six feet tall and is fabricated in steel, with finishes selected to withstand years of sustained public use, the daily reality of people sitting, climbing, and playing on the work.

The letters interlock with one another, a geometric keying strategy that provides mutual stability. Site constraints dictated this tailored anchoring approach, and they were set in place by crane. The result is built to take the affection of a crowd and hold its presence for the long term.

More than a static landmark, the installation works as a dynamic hub for engagement, integrated with the programming and rhythm of the Convention Center. As visitors immerse themselves in the spirit of the city, they become part of a larger story, forming lasting memories and deepening their connection to the place and to one another.